BACKGROUND: Freezing is a common way and one of the best methods of seafood preservation for long periods of time; however, the freeze thawing process may influence the quality of food. OBJECTIVES: Oxidation and denaturation of proteins, sublimation and recrystallization of ice crystals can cause changes in the quality of the frozen products. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of three different thawing methods including microwave, refrigerator, and water thawing on the quality of pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum). METHODS: For this purpose, the pink shrimps were hunted from Persian Gulf. Then, 200 g of peeled undeveined shrimps were frozen in vacuum-packed polyethylene bags at -40°C. The samples were transferred to Kerman Veterinary School and were kept at -18°C freezer. After four days, the shrimp were defrosted by three mentioned methods. Three cycles of freezing and defrosting with four days intervals were performed. Percentage of thawing loss (%TL), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), total volatile base (TVB), and salt-soluble protein (SSP) were detected at each freeze-thaw cycle. RESULTS: An increase in the freeze-thaw cycles increased TBA and TVB value slightly and significantly decreased the SPP value (p<0.05). Microwave thawing method gave the samples with the highest thawing loss in comparison to the other methods in each freeze-thaw cycle (p<0.05). A significant increase was seen in TBA value in water and microwave thawing methods in comparison to refrigerator thawing method (p<0.05). Refrigerator thawing method had higher SSP value in comparison to the other thawing methods (p<0.05). Likewise, there was no significant difference between three mentioned methods in TVB value (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results showed that refrigerator thawing method had lower effect in decreasing chemical quality of the pink shrimp than two other methods, and multiple freeze-thawing processes caused some deleterious effects on the quality of the frozen shrimps.

BACKGROUND: Determining the clinical significance of cardiac murmurs is widely considered in equine practice. Pulmonary murmurs are commonly detected in athletic horses. Echocardiography plays a leading role in assessment of these murmurs. OBJECTIVES: Echocardiographic evaluation of horses with pulmonary regurgitation and determining the importance of pulmonary valve murmurs. METHODS: A total number of 450 athletic horses were examined with focus on cardiac and respiratory systems and 18 horses (8 horses with pulmonary murmur grades 3 and 4 and 10 normal horses) were included in echocardiographic examination. RESULTS: B-mode, M-mode, color flow Doppler and spectral Doppler were performed on two groups and the calculated indices were compared. No statistical difference was found between the values of the two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant correlation was found between severity of murmurs grade and the severity of regurgitating jets. We found that with moderate grades of pulmonary regurgitation, no change in cardiac indices is present.

BACKGROUND: The early stage of Copper poisoning is difficult to be clinically diagnosed in sheep and has not been documented clearly yet. OBJECTIVES: To assess biomarkers in predicting early Copper poisoning in sheep, blood samples were collected from several groups of animals from a naturally Copper poisoning occurrence in an industrial region. METHODS: Animals were divided into four experimental groups; Group A: far from polluted region (Control group), Group B: inside polluted region, apparently healthy and without any clinically jaundice manifestation, Group C: slightly with jaundice signs and hemolytic crisis phase, and Group D: with clear jaundice signs. After collecting blood samples from each group, the serum was analyzed for evaluation of liver enzymes and oxidative stress parameters in different stages of Copper poisoning. In each blood sample, CPK, GGT, AST, ALT, total thiol (T-SH) group, and total proteins were determined. The Copper concentration in the serum, liver, and kidney of the dead animals in group D were also determined. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the blood parameters in group C illustrated by elevated level of serum AST, CPK, and GGT activities and total thiol (as biomarker of oxidative stress) when compared to control groups. In group D, these enzymes, in addition to T-SH, and the total protein were significantly (p≤ 0.05) different from those of the control and the other groups. Measurement of Copper in serum, liver, and kidney of group D (at the end stage of hemolytic phase) confirmed Copper poisoning in these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of the present study, the measurement of the liver enzyme activities and total thiol just closed to critical hemolytic phase could be reliable biomarkers for predicting Copper poisoning in sheep.

BACKGROUND: Ovine anaplasmosis and theileriosis are important tick-borne diseases of sheep and goats which are distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess hematological status in sheep naturally infected with Anaplasma and Theileria spp. to clarify the pathogenic aspects of various species involved in ovine anaplasmosis and theileriosis in Ahvaz region. METHODS: 109 sheep were sampled, and blood parasite infections were diagnosed by microscopic examination and PCR. The blood samples were also subjected to hematologic assessment. RESULTS: PCR analysis revealed A. ovis infection in 86.2% of sheep, while mixed infections with A. marginale were also detected in 53.2% of them. However, Anaplasma inclusion bodies were only observed in 32.1% of the tested animals. T. ovis were found in 88% of the inspected sheep by PCR, and 67.8% of them were detected microscopically, as well. Hematologic assessment showed that mean RBC, PCV, Hb, and MCHC were significantly lower, whereas MCV and RDW were higher in the animals with mixed infections of Anaplasma with parasitemia and Theileria, compared to the uninfected sheep and groups with single infection or without parasitemia. CONCLUSIONS: In brief, it seems that Anaplasma can be activated and induce its pathogenesis in the presence of other infective agents in the carrier or asympthomatic animals. It can also be concluded that mixed infections of Anaplasma with parasitemia and Theileria may induce a regenerative anemia which is most likely attributable to a combined effect of the two.

BACKGROUND: Normal bacterial flora of the conjunctiva, which inhibits growth of opportunistic organisms, has an important role in the prevention of ocular infections. If resident flora is inhibited by disease or long-term application of antibiotics, opportunistic pathogens overgrow, leading to disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ophthalmic chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin on bacterial conjunctival flora in healthy dogs. METHODS: A total of 16 animals were divided into 2 equal groups which received either chloramphenicol (CHL) (0.5%) or ciprofloxacin (CIP) (0.3%). In both groups, the right eye of each animal was treated with 2 drops of antibiotics every 8 and 6 hours, respectively, for 1 week and the left eye received artificial tear solution and served as control. Bacterial and fungal cultures were performed 8 hours before and after the treatment. Fisher’s Exact test and SPSS software were used for statistical analyses (p<0.05). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between control and test eyes and bacterial isolates in both groups. In CHL group, after treatment Staphylococcus spp (62.5%), Bacillus spp (12.5%) from the right eyes and Staphylococcus spp (75%) and Bacillus spp (12.5%) from left eyes were isolated. In CIP group, after treatment the bacterial isolates of right eyes were Staphylococcus spp (87.5%), Aerococcus spp (37.5%), Viridans streptococcus (25%), Micrococcus spp (12.5%), Bacillus spp (12.5%); Staphylococcus spp (75%), Micrococcus spp (25%), Bacillus spp (12.5 %) were isolated from left eyes of dogs after 1 week administration of artificial tear. CONCLUSIONS: Topically applied chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacinhad no significant changes in or detrimental effects on normal bacterial flora of treated dogs.

BACKGROUND: It is commonly acknowledged that the most safe and method of choice anesthesia in birds is inhalation anesthesia but in some clinical situations, such as tracheal resection, injectable anesthetic agents are the only choice of surgeons regardless of whether or not an anesthesia machine is available. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the quality of anesthesia and recovery time of isoflurane and propofol in domestic pigeons. METHODS: Twenty pigeons (Columba livia domesticus), weighing 302.5±37.95g (Mean ± SD) were randomly allocated to two groups of ten. One group was anesthetized by isoflurane (Iso-group), and the anesthesia lasted for 30 minutes. The other group received 14 mg/kg of propofol (1%) at constant rate (CRI) through basilica (wing) vein catheter to induce anesthesia (Pro-group). 1.33 mg/kg per min of propofol was infused to keep pigeons anesthetized for 30 minutes, using an injection pump. Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and percentage of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2%) were recorded in all three phases including before induction of anesthesia, during anesthesia at minutes 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30, and after recovery time in both groups. RESULTS: Anesthesia caused significant effects on respiratory rate, heart rate, and SpO2% (p≤0.05). Recovery times in both groups were significantly different (longer in propofol group). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that the pigeons anesthetized with isoflurane have a soft and fast anesthesia; however, the pigeons were anesthetized with propofol, had a rough induction thatwas not uniform for all pigeons. Isoflurane showed that it is safer than propofol to anesthetize pigeons.

BACKGROUND: Giardia has the ability to infect many mammals including dogs, cats, deer, mice, ground squirrels, chinchillas, swine, rabbits, pocket mice, oxen, guinea pigs, and humans. Giardia lamblia (also Giardia duodenalis, G.intestinalis) isolates have been variably divided into two or three genotypes by different investigators, and each group can be divided into subgroups. OBJECTIVES: We have compared the triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) sequences of these genotypes by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to determine G.lambia genotype in Iran for the first time. METHODS: In this study, 4 sets of primers were used in which 2 sets were designed by other investigator, and 2 sets were designed by the authors of the present study to confirm the results of the first two primers and also to differentiate the subgroups. RESULTS: Among Giardia isolates, 2/10 and1/19 of PCR-RFLP of rabbit and mouse respectively amplified with primer PM290. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that suggests that direct transmission from companion animals to human does occur. Zoonosis is controversial regarding Giardia; however, most researchers believe that its zoonotic potential merits adequate precaution when working with feces of animals that may be infected.

BACKGROUND: Campylobacteriosis is one of the most commonbacterial intestinal disorders of humans in many countries.A wide range of domestic and wild bird species have been identifiedas natural reservoirs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this studywas to determine the Campylobacter spp from pet birds andscreen the determined Campylobacters for presence of virulencecytolethal distending toxin (cdt) genes. METHODS: A totalof 660 fecal samples from 32 different species of pet birds weretaken and examined for detection of Campylobacter spp. andwere investigated for presence of cdt genes. All the sampleswere collected from clinically healthy birds that were kept incage, zoological parks, and/ or in zoo of Tehran, the capital ofIran. RESULTS: In total, 20 thermophilic Campylobacter weredetected from 8 different avian species. From 20 confirmedCampylobacter spp., 16 samples (80%) were C. jejuni positiveand 4 (20%) were C. coli in species-specific PCR test. Furthermore,out of 20 detected Campylobacter, 13 (65%) harboredthe various subunits of cdtA, cdtB and cdtC genes, and 7 (35%)were negative for all tested cdt genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findingsindicate that the carriage rate of Campylobacter in differentspecies of cage and/or in zoo birds is high and confirm thatcdt genes may frequently be present in campylobacter spp.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about blood supply of the carpal joint in one- humped camel, while there is extensive data about cow and equine species. In order to perform surgeries and diagnostic techniques in carpal region, information about the elements of the joint such as its arteries is necessary. OBJECTIVES: This study aims at describing the origins, arrangements, and branches of the arterial supply of the carpal joint of the adult one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). METHODS: Twelve left forelimbs of camelus Dromedrus without any lameness history were divided into 3 equal groups randomly. The brachial artery, before the elbow joint, was injected with warm water containing red gelatin, red latex solution, and rodopas resin solution separately; then, the arterial supply of the carpal joint was studied. RESULTS: The results showed that the radial, median, and caudal interosseous arteries and their branches supplied the carpal joint. (Supplied the carpal joint) CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that radial artery and its branches such as dorsal and palmar carpal branches were the most important arteries that supply the carpal joint. Median and caudal interosseous arteries support supplying this joint too but the arterial branches supplying the carpal joint in the Bactrian camel are from the radial artery and dorsal interosseous antebrachium branches. In the cow, the common interosseous, median, collateral ulnar and radial arteries give off branches to supply the carpal joint while common interosseous, median,transverse cubital and radial arteries give off branches to supply the this joint in the horse

BACKGROUND: Hematological studies are valuable diagnostictechniques in the medical care of fish, reflecting the healthcondition and the effects of environmental factors on fish. OBJECTIVES:Due to the high value of sturgeon fish and necessityto recover the brood stock, this study was done to provide dataabout hematological parameters and reproduction normative ofwild brood stock beluga, Huso huso, from the southeast of theCaspian Sea. METHODS: Hematological parameters includingRBC, WBC, hematocrit, hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC,and differential leukocyte count were determined. In this regard,7 male and 7 female wild broods were studied. Differencesin mentioned parameters between genders were evaluated.The correlations among parameters were also determined.RESULTS: According to the results, the male fish had significantlyhigher WBC and lymphocyte and lower neutrophil comparedto the females. Also, functional fecundity was 447000 ±157210 and weight of extracted oocytes was 35.4 ± 3.78 mg/cell. The oocytes’ long diameter was 4.17 ± 0.21mm and widthdiameter was 3.75 ± 0.19 mm. Egg fertilization rate was 46.7± 24.33%, and larvae weight was 25.48 ± 1.56 mg. CONCLUSIONS:Hematological parameters of juvenile and fingerlingreared beluga showed wide ranges, and there are differences inhematological parameters between reared and wild broodstockbelugas. These findings highlight the importance of hematologicalstudy in wild beluga sturgeon.